Listening to Prestige 432: Betty Roché

This is a Session of the Lost. The rhythm section is the same two guys who played with Jimmy Neeley on his one session as leader for Prestige, of which I can find no trace, although they were fine musicians. Bassist Michael Mulia played on one other Prestige session, for Etta Jones.

Rudy Lawless was one of that group of guys who grew up together in Harlem's Sugar Hill--the group that included Jackie McLean, Sonny Rollins and Art Taylor. His credits included stints with Andy Kirk, Blue Mitchell, Hank Jones and Roy Eldridge.

 Al Sears and Willie Dixon, and we'll see him again later in the decade with a successful fusion album.

Wally Richardson made two albums for Prestige, with

 Betty Roché, who did some important work with Ellington and got deserved acclaim for it. managed her own disappearing act, never recording again after this session. I've written more about her on-again, mostly off-again career in my entry on her first Prestige album.

The Ellington work, especially her two recordings of "Take the A Train," remains the benchmark of her career, and of this second Prestige album I can find only two cuts, "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" and "I Had the Craziest Dream," although it shouldn't be that obscure. It did get a CD release on Original Jazz Classics.

They are gems. "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," with melody by Jimmy Van Heusen, known for light but tuneful pop fare ("High Hopes," "The Tender Trap," "All the Way") and lyrics by Johnny Burke, is probably not all that familiar to the casual pop music fan, but it's become much beloved by jazz singers and jazz musicians, with over 300 versions. It's a musician's song, and Roché makes the most of it.

She should be more remembered. She should have done more to make herself more remembered. But listen to her "Polka Dots and Moonbeams." You'll love it.

Listening to Prestige Vol. 2, 1955-56, and Vol. 3, 1957-58 now include, in the Kindle editions, links to all the "Listen to One" selections. All three volumes available from Amazon.

Listening to Prestige Vol. 4 is now in preparation!

The most interesting book of its kind that I have ever seen. If any of you real jazz lovers want to know about some of the classic records made by some of the legends of jazz, get this book. LOVED IT.
– Terry Gibbs